• Bangkok was founded as the Thai capital in 1782 and sprawled across 1573 square kilometers on both sides of the Chao Phraya River. It is Thailand's spiritual, cultural, political, commercial, educational and diplomatic center.

• Pattaya means the wind blowing from the southwest to the northeast at the beginning of the rainy season.
In the old days, Pattaya was only a small fishing village on the gulf of Thailand.
For sun lovers and water-sport fans, Pattaya's sunny climate provides ideal conditions for swimming and all other imaginable water activities, including fishing, boat sailing, speed-boating, scuba-diving and windsurfing.
For those who do not want to get drenched, Pattaya also has gyms and health clubs for exercise and many kinds of land sports and games to choose from, such as shooting, car racing, horse riding, archery, golf, bowling, tennis, etc.

• Climate Year - round sunshine with three distant seasons; DRY (November to February), average 26°C;
HOT (March to May) 30°C plus; and RAINING (June to October) which brings the odd thunderstorm but rarely interrupts the sunshine for more than a couple of hours.

• Clothing & Dress code Light, loose fitting clothes, cottons in the hot season; quick drying clothes in the raining season. Bring sunglasses. In Bangkok, a few restaurants require jackets for men in the evening, but as
a rule, dress for comfort.

• Time 7 hours ahead of Greenwich mean time.

• Electricity 220 volts, adapter available

• Currency Thai Baht

• Language Thai, but many people have a basic understanding of English, especially in shops and restaurants.

• Shopping The best in Asia for Thai Silk, Jewelry, Pottery, Hill Tribe Handicrafts, Benjarong, Celadon, and Antiques from all over Asia.

• Passport & Visas Passports are required if you are a US citizen and visas are required but are stamped on arrival. These visas are good for up to 30 days provided you are holding valid onward transportation.

Major Beaches and Islands

Pattaya Beach Some 4 kilometres long, this beach faces Pattaya Bay, the major venue from where boats visit Pattaya's offshore islands. The beach curves from north to south and is largely paralleled by a treelined promenade and beach road which is lined, in the northern and central parts, by hotels and restaurants. The northern section of the beach is largely tranquil, while the central and southern parts become increasingly lively, thanks to a position of shops, department stores, boutiques, beauty salons, supermarkets, bars, discotheques, restaurants and nightclubs. The central area of the beach is a major shopping area, while the southern end is one of Pattaya's major nightlife areas.
Starting from Dusit Resort Hotel in the area called North Pattaya to the small hill in the South, Pattaya beach and its parallel beach road is about 3 kilometres long. Apart from swimming and sunbathing, the beach also offers excellent facilities for watersports enthusiasts of all kinds. The northern part is a more quiet area of resorts while the southern part is a place of hustle and bustle, where both sides of the street are lined up with department stores, restaurants, discotheques, bars and nightclubs and shops of all kinds.

Jomtien Beach This 6-kilometre long, largely straight beach, some 4 kilometres south of Pattaya, is the most notable of several beaches south of the resort. The beach is popular with windsurfers and watersports enthusiasts, largely because the area enjoys brisk and fresh breezes sweeping island from the Thai Gulf, and because the seas are less congested with boats than is Pattaya Bay. Jomtien is also a major residential area with beachside hotels, bungalow complexes, condominiums and restaurants.
The former paddy fields have turned into a thriving beach. Only 3 km. down Pattaya Beach, Jomtien is highly recommended to those who seek a quieter resort, where the golden sand, bright sun and blue clear sea are always pleased to welcome all vacationers.
It is a good place for relaxation with modern comforts and accommodation. Its long straight coastline of 6 kilometres with a fringe of coconut and palm trees offers vacationers a pleasant atmosphere for relaxing and viewing the sun setting in the sea. Its calm sea is also suitable for swimming and playing all kinds of water sports for the whole year. Jomtien Beach is especially the best spot for windsurfing and instruction is widely available for beginners.

Ko Lan (Lan Island) Some 15 minutes by speedboat from Pattaya Bay, Ko Lan is the largest of Pattaya's offshore islands and is a popular venue for watersports such as windsurfing, water skiing, snorkelling and scuba-diving. Viewing coral reefs through glass-bottomed boats and parasailing are other popular activities. Island beaches are lined with souvenir stalls selling colourful beachwear and decorative handicrafts, foodstalls and restaurants. Visitors seeking greater tranquility can travel to Ko Pai (Bamboo Island), some 35 minutes by speedboat from Pattaya Bay. Quiet, pristine beaches and clear waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling characterize this uninhabited island.